The racial slurs written on dormitory message boards at the Air Force Academy prep school -- actions that prompted an impassioned speech from the academy's superintendent -- were written by one of the targeted African-American students.

The unexpected finding in the investigation into the slurs was announced by the academy in a statement Tuesday.

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“Racism has no place at the academy, in any shape or form,” said Lt. Col. Allen Herritage, an academy spokesman. “We will continue to create a climate of dignity and respect for all, encourage ideas that do so, and hold those who fail to uphold these standards accountable.”

The Colorado Spring Gazette said according to "several sources" that the cadet wrote the messages to get out of trouble he faced at the academy for misconduct. The cadet, who was not identified, is no longer at the school, and the academy refrained from discussing any further details of the investigation.

The messages were found in September on message boards outside the rooms of five African-American students. They read "go home," followed by the slur.

The incident, coming at a time of heightened racial tension in the U.S., spurred academy superintendent Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria to give a speech to the entire school denouncing the actions. The video went viral and captured national attention.

"If you can’t treat someone from another race or a different color skin with dignity and respect, then you need to get out,” he said.

In an email to the Gazette on Tuesday, Silveria said the findings don't change the central message of his speech.

"Regardless of the circumstances under which those words were written, they were written, and that deserved to be addressed," Silveria said in a Tuesday email. "You can never over-emphasize the need for a culture of dignity and respect -- and those who don't understand those concepts aren't welcome here."